"Oh my God." Bo gasped. Daryl, Merle and Michonne stopped in their tracks and looked around warily.

"What is it?" Michonne whispered.

"You don't smell that?" Bo asked before she suddenly ran off. They went after her and nearly lost her between the trees. Daryl tripped over her when they came to a clearing and she was just standing there. They all smiled wide at the sight of the orange grove. Some of the trees were dead and one looked like it had been struck by lightening but there were still at least ten rows of the trees – all in bloom with fresh fruit.

"Damn girl. You're like a blood hound." Merle said as he jabbed her playfully with his elbow. She smiled and took out her map. She circled their location before she started towards the trees. Daryl grabbed her arm and held her back.

"Hang on." He said. He put his fingers in his mouth and whistled as loud as he could. It echoed in the small valley and all they heard in reply was the wind.

"Walkers eat meat." Merle pointed out as he started towards the trees. Despite his statement his steps were cautious and slow.

"Get as many as you can carry." Michonne said as she started cutting fruit from the taller branches.

"Not the ones off the ground." Daryl said to Bo as she bent to get one.

"Why not?" She asked as she picked it up anyway. She turned it over and let out an ear-piercing scream when she saw there was a large millipede nested in it. She flung it away and shuddered.

"I told you." Daryl chuckled as he climbed one of the tall trees effortlessly. He plucked a few and waited until she was below him to drop it.

"It's just a little bug, girly." Merle said – his mouth full of the first slice of the orange he had already peeled open. He handed her a piece and she took it. Bo smiled and sighed as she devoured the fruit. It had to be the best tasting thing they had eaten in a while.

"Mmph!" She moaned and smacked loudly as she helped him finish it. Merle chucked the peel over his shoulder.

"These'll make Herschel happy. Oranges have a bunch of curative properties." Michonne pointed out as she gatherer a bunch and shoved them in her bag. Bo went back to catching the ones Daryl dropped down to her in her upturned shirt. When she couldn't hold anymore he jumped down and she released them into his backpack. Bo looked around a little and smiled wide over another discovery. She immediately went over to some smaller trees and started stripping the branches. They were considerably shorter than the orange trees and Daryl thought they were more berries until he went over to her.

"What are these?" He asked. He had never seen the nut before and when he popped one in his mouth he immediately spit it out. Somehow the shell was rubbery and hard at the same time.

"Pistachios!" She sang before she cracked one open. "Don't eat the shell – see, only the green and purple part it edible. And we gotta boil them in salt so the shells are easier to get into." He looked at the odd little nut between her fingers before he glanced at her. "Open up." Daryl smirked and let his mouth fall open. Bo fed his the pistachio and he closed his lips around her fingers. She giggled – he didn't care that she had dirt on her skin or that the nut was undoubtedly tasteless. She yelped when he nipped her in an attempt to chew the nut without fully biting down.

"Not bad." He said before he started storing the nuts in his pockets.

"They're good protein." She said. When Daryl reached for another branch a gray hand shot through the tree and grabbed his wrist. Bo screamed and Merle sucked his teeth.

"Woman if you're gonna scream over every little—Shit!" He cursed when he saw the walkers surrounding her and Daryl. He killed the one holding on to his wrist and pushed Bo behind him towards Merle. "Move out – we got enough for today." He let Michonne and Bo run ahead of him before he covered Daryl. They ran until they were sure the walkers had fallen behind. They were quiet on the way back to the prison. Merle had fallen into a mood so Bo hung back next to Daryl as he trudged ahead of them. Daryl was absently rubbing the bruise forming on his wrist where the walker grabbed him.

"I'm sorry about that." Bo whispered to him. Daryl just shook his head.

"Not your fault."

"Yes it was! Your god damn wailing is gonna get us killed." Merle yelled as he whirled on her. Daryl instinctively got between them. "You need to get a damn grip if you're gonna come out here. Even she knows you gotta stay quiet." He hiked his thumb towards Michonne. "I don't care how good you are at finding shit – you can't stop screaming like a whore-inna-horror-movie then stay your ass at the prison!" Bo glared at him until he turned around and kept walking. Michonne just kind of looked at her – she'd never say Merle was right out loud but he was. Even after all this time she hadn't gotten a handle on her fear of walkers.


"Train me." Merle looked up when he heard Bo. His expression was that of complete and utter surprise that she was talking to him. Let alone what she had just asked. He laughed – her face was far too serious to be anything but laughable.

"Seen too many chink movies, honey. I ain't no 'grand master'. Get out of here." He scoffed.

"No." she said and moved further into his cell. "Without me you guys will only find a fraction of what you do when I'm there. You need me but… you're right – I'm too afraid of those things. I'm afraid of the people we'll find out there. I'm afraid something will happen to Daryl—"

"Not with me there. Ain't nothing gonna happen to him." Merle boasted. "Your skinny ass won't survive my training. Just stay here with the rest of the pussies."

"Look here." She said and yanked her shirt open. The button popped off and hit him in the shoulder. "You see this? This happened because I was too trusting – too reliant on other people. I never want this to happen again. I don't want to be that person anymore. I never want to be a weight on Daryl like I was—"

"You mean like you are." He interrupted before he focused on her scars. "Who did that?"

"Shane." She answered. It felt very odd saying his name. She hadn't in so long. No one mentioned him and she hadn't thought about him until now. Even when she was struggling to rehabilitate her arms. She just thought of Daryl – wanting to be able to put her hands on his shoulders or reach up and cup his face. She put Shane out of her mind when Daryl told her he was dead. She'd never be able to get revenge and spending time wondering why he did what he did was a waste. She had other things to do and right now she needed to be stronger.

"I'm surprised you survived." Merle snorted. He looked her up and down when she didn't leave. "Why don't you get Daryl to train you?"

"We both know he'd be too gentle. I don't have time for that." Bo said.

"What do you know about guns?"

"Nothing." She shrugged.

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

"No."

"Can you lift more than fifty pounds?" He asked.

"I can lift the laundry basket when it's full of wet clothes." Merle put his face in his hand and dragged it down in a frustrated gesture.

"I'll let you know by tomorrow."


"Yes… oh shit, yes!" Bo clung to Daryl as she sank lower on to his cock. He pressed his forehead to hers and she opened her eyes. They smiled at each other – it was a little awkward waiting for her to adjust to his size but it was nice being so close. Daryl rubbed his stubble along her shoulder and she yelped. Her fingertips were nice and soft along his sun burnt shoulders. He rubbed her thighs slowly – trying to help her relax. She was a little tense – the initial pain of being penetrated always made her nervous and uneasy. But she smiled wide and ground down a little harder. "Oh damn…"

"That good hm?" he asked as he squeezed her hips. She huffed and rocked from side to side.

"Shit, yeah." She moaned and lifted up a little. "Ahh…" She put her head back as she eased down again. "You're right on my spot."

"Speed it up—"

"Nuh-uh." She protested and cupped his face. "We got nothing to do and no where to go. We are gonna take our time and fuck for at least five whole minutes." Daryl chuckled and flipped his hair out his face. She combed her fingers through it and smoothed it back so she should see his eyes.

"Don't make me laugh – I'll go soft."

"Excuses, excuses." She sang. Bo started bucking against him slowly and he buried his face in her neck to muffle the pathetic sound he made. She guided one of his hands to the small of her back. "Hold me up here."

"Mm." He hummed and ducked down to suck her breasts.

"Ohh…" Bo squirmed in his lap. Daryl laved at her skin until he felt her loosen up around him.

"You ready now, ain't ya?" He said and lifted her up a little.

"Fuck yeeesss… Dar—"

"Daryl!" They jumped when Merle banged on the door to the guard tower. One knock was all they got before he let himself in. Daryl rolled them over to shield Bo from his sight. He doubted his brother was ready to set eyes upon Bo's unique physique. And he really didn't feel like answering any of Merle's dumb questions so he made sure all Merle could see were her legs wrapped around his back.

"The hell man? Get out!" Daryl said over his shoulder. Merle ignored him as well as the view of his ass.

"Oh good she's here – I thought you were in here jerking off by yourself. Let's go, china-doll." Merle said as if there was nothing out of the ordinary about him walking in on them having sex.

"Are you serious? Now?" Bo asked. "I'm kind of busy."

"Now or never." Merle said.

"Ugh! Fine, get out so I can get dressed." She said.

"I'm good here." Merle said and leaned against the doorframe. "Been dying to see what Daryl's so strung-out about." Bo rolled her eyes and moved so only her top half could be seen.

"There, boobs. Now wait for me downstairs." She said and pointed out the door. Merle shrugged and left. She sighed in relief.

"What's that all about?" Daryl asked.

"He's gonna teach me to use guns." She answered. She eased back and sighed when Daryl slid from inside her.

"No I meant showing him your tits." Daryl said. Bo laughed when she saw the serious look on his face.

"Don't worry, baby." She cooed as she cupped her breasts. "They're still all yours." She pulled on her panties and tucked herself in. Daryl just lay back on the sleeping back and watched her get dressed. He often wondered how she hid her penis in her tight jeans and it was like some sort of magic trick to see it one minute and then nothing the next as she buttoned up. She pulled on her bra and shrugged on her shirt before she grabbed her axe. "We won't be back until tomorrow." She leaned over and kissed him.

"Damn, I'm gonna get blue balls."

"You and me both." She chuckled.


"So what's first? Fist fighting. Gun shooting. Are you gonna-AH!" Bo yelped when Merle slapped her. It wasn't very hard but it took her by surprise. "Ow—"

"No complaining." He said and smacked her again. "And if you start crying I'm out." Bo kept her mouth shut and pushed down the urge to start crying. She blinked away her tears and glared at him. "Get that lip sucked back in – I see it quiver and you're getting another slap." She bit her lip and he smiled. "This ain't a movie or a tv show. You don't learn quick out here you die. You can't always run – I seen how fast you are, that can't always save you." He said as he started walking. She followed him and squeaked when they came across a walker tied to a tree. "Look at this thing."

"It's a walker." She shrugged. He grabbed her and put her closer to it – so close she screamed and leaned back from fear it might bite her.

"Yeah but you know how he sees you? You're walking, screaming dinner." Merle barked as he pushed her against the thing.

"Stop! It's gonna bite me—AHH!" She shrieked when it's teeth closed down on the collar of her shirt.

"Your screaming is not stopping it – there's a surprise." Merle chuckled. Bo pushed back against him but Merle was stronger than her.

"I said stop!" She flung her arm back and hit him in the nose hard enough that he let her go. She fell back.

"Nice shot." He snorted before he moved to cut the walker free. It stumbled after him first but he punched it and it fell to the ground next to Bo. It snarled and grabbed her hair. She screamed and struggled with it – barely able to see through her own locks as it tried to bite at her face. She heard something metallic fall beside her and looked over to find out it was a small hunting knife. "You never killed one have you?"

"Help me!"

"I am." Merle said as he leaned against the tree.

"You fucker—" Bo rolled the walker over and grabbed the knife. She stabbed it in the eye and it stopped short of tearing into her neck. It collapsed on the ground and released her hair. "You are a real shit stain Mer—What! What are you doing?" She stood up when he grabbed her hair and kept pulling.

"This is going to get you killed – allow me." He said as he put his knife to her hair.

"No!" She dug her nails into his hand and he let her go. "Don't! I'll braid it – just for the love of God let me keep my fucking hair."

"Fine." Merle said and watched her as she braided it quickly and tucked in the back of her shirt. He looked her up and down as she dusted herself off. "This whole 'sexy-runner' thing you have going on is only gonna get you in trouble."

"But—"

"You can still run in biker boots and they'll protect you from ankle biters. And I'm sure you're proud or whatever of your scars but I can see all the way down your shirt. Little tits ain't my thing but some scum bag out there might not be so picky. Speaking of which…" He grabbed her again and pinned her to the tree. "You know how to defend yourself against—uuf!" He grunted when she kneed him in the crotch. She then jabbed him in the throat and when his eyes bulged open she shoved her index fingers into them. "Ahh! Shit!" he fell back to nurse his new aches. When he recovered he looked at her shocked. She took a step back when he got up. She braced herself for a slap but he put his hand on her shoulder and smirked. "Pretty good."

"I-I grew up in Manila – guys bigger than you used to go there just to rape kids smaller than me on their business trips. They taught 'anti-pedo' maneuvers in pre-k." Bo said as she buttoned her shirt.

"So live men you can handle but the lame brains… why are you so freaked out by them?"

"They have no weak spots. I kick a walker in the nuts it just keeps coming for me. They can't be reasoned with and need I remind you that they are dead! It's… just freaky the way they growl and then they eat live people. But not each other – what's up with that!" She rambled on.

"They ripped you from your 'spoon fed', rich-bitch life – you should be pissed. You should want them all dead so you can go back to dancing the can-can and twirling your titty-tassels." Merle said. Bo laughed at his out dated knowledge of showgirl routines.

"I am pissed. But you and Daryl seem like this is no big thing."

"Well apart from the dead bastards this is how we used to live. Selling dope, pulling scams for food money and living on other peoples couches when dad booted us out. Hunting bucks and shitting in the woods." He said. "You and my brother hooking up is kind of funny. Some muddy red neck cracker come to you in the ol' days you would've sicked your bodyguard on him right?"

"Yeah actually the way he dresses, Daryl wouldn't even be allowed in the theater." She shrugged and followed when he started walking. She didn't mind Merle as much as everyone else. Hell he didn't get on her nerves the way he used to even though he was the same old Merle. A year ago she wouldn't be caught dead marching through the woods after him and listening to his racist stories about being in the army. She hated to admit that he was charming in his own way. Just like Daryl there was something oddly attractive about Merle. Of course Daryl was cuter in Bo's opinion even though they both looked like they lived a hard life - most likely on drugs half the time. But Merle reminded her of a friend of her father. A tough-as-nails conglomerate CEO that used to give her loli pops even though she was well into her teens. Even after her mother explained to him what Bo was going through he never once treated her like some kind of sad freak.

"You really like him don't you?" Merle asked as he idly tracked something through the brush. He glanced back at her.

"Yeah, Daryl's a real sweetheart. Not a cruel-bone in his body." She answered.

"A lot of people say that about him. He's sweet and quiet. And he does that silent bashful thing that makes girls wet themselves. My baby brother." He said absently. "He likes you – so I guess you can't be that bad… even for an oriental."

"We're called 'Asian' now." She chuckled and he waved it off.


A/N: Aww some Bo and Merle bonding... enjoy it now...